Ah, the ho-hum pantry shelf. Typically the last place we associate with healthy, vibrant foods that support health. But both Expo West and Fancy Food this year have made it clear that there’s a whole lotta shake up going on in the pantry, and both packaging and ingredients are getting a makeover for sustainability and health. Here’s my take on some of the green trends worth watching for 2014 that will clean up your shelf for the better.

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Trend #1: Condiments Get Cleaned Up

Trendsetter:Sir Kensington Mayo and Ketchup
The mega trend of eating cleaner food, and reaching for foods made with easy to read ingredients has finally come to the condiment aisle. The time has come for both mayo and ketchup-condiments notoriously filled with many hard to decipher ingredients-to bask in a major makeover. Sir Kensington’s version boasts 50% less sugar, no high fructose corn syrup, 45% less sodium, and whole tomatoes. And their mayo reads refreshingly clean and simple: Sunflower oil, eggs, lemon juice, vinegar, raw sugar, black pepper and mustard seed. That's it. These superlative sauces are also back in glass -the ultimate in recyclability.

The new generation of tetra packs sidesteps all of this. BPA-free and recyclable, this packaging is popping up in larger numbers, giving you the same convenience but in a better-for-you package. And I have to be honest-despite the current pouch craze (one of the Top 5 Trends Spotted at Fancy Foods Sumer 2013), I personally prefer to see pouches used for baby food and the occasional camping trip, rather than taking over the shelf. Which they are doing with many, many products, in a trend I call "camping meets carpool".

Trend #3: Microwave Popcorn Gets a Greenover

This trend is long overdue-as the health benefits of whole corn kernels are impressive: an antioxidant-rich whole grain that packs fiber and satisfies our craving for crunch. I blogged about Quinn Popcorn earlier this year, and basically crowned them “the king of pop” on my own shelf. However, I think Quinn highlights many convergent trends: parents on a mission to make better food for their kids, greener packaging to be better for body and planet (the bag is free of all the traditional toxic coatings, and is compostable to boot), high quality ingredients, and the growing interest in non-GMO transparency. It’s exciting to think about how these trends will continue to transform the shelf in the future.

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Trend #4: Newfangled Nut Butters

High protein and plant based, I have half a dozen nut butters on my shelf at any time-because they are such a staple of healthy living for my family. Hailed as a Top Trend for 2013 by The Sterling-Rice Group, the new generation of nut butters crafts an appealing blend of healthy, satisfying indulgence, as these nutrient powerhouses pack heart healthy fats, protein and fiber. Featuring a variety of nuts and seeds such as cashew, almond, walnut, hemp and flax- as well as smaller regional brands featuring "raw" or "live" nut butters, they make it easy to eat well on the go. A spoonful swirled into breakfast, slathered on fruit slices, or savored as a snack, for instance. Be sure to choose those free of trans fats and high fructose corn syrup. And two caveats-don’t be fooled by smidges of exotic sounding additions such as acai or seaweed, as I’ve blogged about before. And treat those uber indulgent ones-made with chocolate and a variety of added sugars-as dessert. But health from the shelf has never tasted so good!

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See any other trends hitting your shelves that are noteworthy? I'd love to hear from you!

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(Disclosure: I have received free product samples from Sir Kensington, Pacific Foods and Quinn Popcorn)